Purpose of The New Military orders

Fulfill a desire of medieval knights who wanted to live a monastic existence

Fight to re-claim areas of the holylands lost to Muslim invaders

The Knights Templar led a strange dual existence, they led a peaceful monastic existence at home, yet they were a fearsome fighting force in the ‘real world’ outside!

The other ‘Hospitaller and Teutonic orders’ were also capable of fighting and defending Christians yet their role was more geared towards looking after the sick, hence the name ‘Hospitaller’ where we get the modern name ‘Hospitals’.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Much of the subsequent success of the Knights Templar and other orders can be attributed to ‘Saint Bernard of Clairvaux’who helped the order gain recognition and respect – this led to the Knights Templar and other orders gaining approval from the papacy around the years 1123 – 1128

This approval from the papacy and recognition led to massive donations of land, castles and treasures from Europe’s elite’s who were sympathetic with the cause!

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Monks and the Founding of the Knights Templar